SB 938: Peace officers: training requirements.

Session Year: 2025-2026
House: Senate
Latest Version Date: 2026-08-06

Current Status:

In Progress

(2026-08-27: From committee: That the Assembly amendments be concurred in. (Ayes 5. Noes 1.))

Introduced

In Committee

Awaiting First Chamber Vote

Passed First Chamber

In Committee

Awaiting Second Chamber Vote

Passed Second Chamber

Enacted

Version:

Existing law contains numerous provisions governing the qualifications, standards, and training of peace officers. Existing law requires specified peace officers to successfully complete a training course prescribed by the Commission on Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST) before exercising the powers of a peace officer. Existing law requires the commission, for those instances where individuals have acquired prior comparable peace officer training, to adopt regulations providing for alternative means for satisfying the training required by a specified provision of law. Existing regulations provide a Basic Course Waiver to individuals with qualifying out-of-state or federal law enforcement experience whose law enforcement training, experience, and education are deemed by POST to demonstrate sufficient law enforcement knowledge, skill, and proficiency.

This bill would prohibit an individual who was hired by the United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement for the purpose of detention operations or removal operations, on or after January 1, 2025, from being eligible to apply for any Regular Basic Course Waiver. By increasing duties on local law enforcement agencies, this bill would impose a state-mandated local program.

This bill would provide that service as a sworn federal law enforcement officer whose primary duties consisted of any one or any combination of immigration inspection, border enforcement, or apprehension, detention, or removal of noncitizens under the federal immigration laws, and the training for that service, does not, standing alone, constitute qualifying training, experience, and education demonstrating sufficient law enforcement knowledge, skill, and proficiency for purposes of determining eligibility for a Regular Basic Course Waiver. By increasing duties on local law enforcement agencies, this bill would impose a state-mandated local program.

The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement.

This bill would provide that, if the Commission on State Mandates determines that the bill contains costs mandated by the state, reimbursement for those costs shall be made pursuant to the statutory provisions noted above.

Discussed in Hearing